ABSTRACT:
A multilevel protocol has been developed to provide a consistent and repeatable means of determining fate and effect of toxic organic chemicals in anaerobic wastewater treatment processes. Level I consists of a three‐step screening protocol for assessing toxicant effect on organic cosubstrate transformations. Level II is a cosubstrate kinetics protocol designed to reveal the effect of toxic organic chemicals on the kinetics of acetogenic and methanogenic transformations. Level III is a toxicant degradation kinetics protocol. The protocol test approach represents a composite of conditions and procedures used by a number of investigators of anaerobic reactions. It permits a wide latitude in specific reactor sizes and types and in measurement techniques as long as the basic culture, chemical and physical environment, and substrates are maintained as prescribed. Examples are presented to illustrate the type of test results that can be expected when using the protocol.